TK and Tink: The Trip Report You Never Saw Coming - *Update 7-22* P43

Can I go a little off topic for just a second? I have a Public Service Announcement:

Easter Lillies are one of the most poisonous plant for pets, especially cats. We lost our little Cinderella a few years back because she ate just a tiny nibble off one leaf. It was horrible. So I try to spread the news about this every chance I get (Who knew? Everyone talks about poinsettias, but I never heard any warnings about lillies).

Ok, business first. I'm going to do some replies here and respond to what TK wrote with some of my own observations. Then I'm going to let TK have at it for the next chapter and I'll take the one after that. Unfortunately, Life has made a huge appearance over the past two weeks. Last week I had MAJOR car issues (read: EXPENSIVE) with Lola. This past weekend it was Engagement Party Madness for my brother and sister-in-law-to-be and right now I'm dealing with some unexpected medical issues with one of my furry babies. I'm literally sick with worry. I'm hoping to get to the vet with her today. Hoping nothing is terribly wrong.

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Hey, I know I've talked to you since, but I just want to say again, I am so glad that your baby is doing okay. It's tough when a pet is sick, I've been through it, so I understand.

Early for TK, perhaps. LOL I felt like I was right on time. It was what, 5 a.m.?

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Yes, that is actually early in my household. We're usually 6 to 630 am people. Well, myself and DS. Not DH so much.

You know, I'm going to stop right here and say, in defense of women worldwide, we were both up, showered, dressed, packed and ready to go out the door in 55 minutes. Women high maintenance? Pssht.

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I don't know if you'll paint me in such a great light later in the report, although I would say compared to most I am fairly low maintenance. As a matter of fact, I thought I was pretty low maintenance until I saw how low maintenance you are! Then I discovered I was not.

Honestly, I think I temporarily lost that strainer between my brain and my mouth. I just out and answered. Ha!

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A common theme for the rest of the trip.

Don't listen to her. The woman is a WAR card shark.

Card. Shark.

And no lie. The first game of WAR lasted for almost 2 hours.

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Um, seriously? I hadn't played war in years. I had no idea I was this "card shark."

I don't know. Did I win? I didn't write that down. I didn't think I did. I think you dominated all of the games we played. Until later...when I started using the power of the elements. LOL Just call me STORM.

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I'm pretty sure you won war once, and were shocked when you did.

Oh, you mean like when you had, like 100 points in the first hand and I was already negative?! LOL

Can I go a little off topic for just a second? I have a Public Service Announcement:

Easter Lillies are one of the most poisonous plant for pets, especially cats. We lost our little Cinderella a few years back because she ate just a tiny nibble off one leaf. It was horrible. So I try to spread the news about this every chance I get (Who knew? Everyone talks about poinsettias, but I never heard any warnings about lillies).

Sorry to hijack your TR, I just wanted to warn others. Thanks.

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Hey, you feel free to interrupt! I honestly didn't know that, I'm glad I do. We have several pets in my family (not my house, but family), and that's good to know! Thank you, and I'm sorry for your loss.

Hey, guys. I promise a new update will be coming soon. Once we hit my work week (Wed-Sat), it's darn near impossible for me to have the time and motivation to write a proper chapter. And since I refuse to pass off a poorly executed piece of writing that would be severely lacking in my usual wit and charm, I hope you'll all bear with me, and hopefully this weekend, we'll have something new.

Today we got stuck behind a dumptruck who was going very slow. My dd asked me,"Do you see that red dump truck?" I said yes. She then went on to inform me (and I have to quote it since it is so cute),"When I get bigger I am going to fix up a dump truck for me with parts from WalMart so I can drive it." She loves cars, trucks well anything with motors. At church one day while walking through the parking lot she informed us that (I quote again) "I love cars. They smell like muscle."

Do Floridians come to New England, take a deep breath and say, "Ahh...New England air."

My guess is no, but you never know.

That would be however, exactly what I said to Tink as we stepped off the plane.

"Florida air." Cue deep inhalation of breath. Cue big ole sigh.

I was there, people. But not quite there. We still had to make it to our luggage and to Mr. Transportation. Never fear, all went completely smooth on that front. I will say, during the trip, I would definitely think of my husband and son, but not in a way that made me sad. This whole trip was so new to me, and being in Florida with anyone other than immediate family (although Tink is pretty much family, only lacking in the blood relation), was also new. So walking through the airport and getting on the first "monorail" to head over to baggage claim felt familiar, and yet completely different.

And I when I say completely different, I mean...

IT WAS TOTALLY AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!

Now, I think we all know how much I love my family. And part of me feels this little snag of guilt when I'm writing about this trip, because you know what? I had a good time, and I had a good time without them. With my girl Tink. And that's not to say I don't love them, and that I didn't think of them fondly during the trip, but I hope you won't call me a bad mother if I say, I didn't wish they were there. Granted, it was only four days, and really, we're all going together in September as a big family, so it didn't leave me with that kind of guilt. It only left me with the...should I be feeling worse about liking this independence?

I think all you moms will know what I mean. This was my first trip without my husband in many moons, and my first trip without my son, ever. And while I enjoyed it...oh, heck, I loved it, I did feel a little guilt every know and then.

Most of the time, however, I was having too much fun to notice.

And now, as we return from that sidebar, we're meeting up with Mr. Transportation, and we're off. Off to our hotel.

Which I haven't revealed yet, huh?

And I won't. You can wait and eensy, teensy bit longer. Mwa-ha-ha.

Okay, I'm not that mean.

Eventually, we arrived. Pulled in to check with security, and we were checking in. Three guesses as to the CM's name.

Go ahead.

You don't even need three, do you?

It was JACK!!!! Unfortunately, not this one...

Perhaps, however, that is fortunate, because who knows what kind of pirates could be lurking about if he were the security guard. How easily he could be persuaded with a bit of rum.

I digress. It was a sign, people.

A sign that we were destined to stay at this resort together. Tink's second time, my first.

Does this picture ring any bells?

That's right, friends! Caribbean Beach Resort all the way!!!!!!!!

I was excited. Mega, mega, mega excited. I'd never stayed there before, and I immediately fell in love. It's so pretty, and I'm so glad to be here, with Tink, in this moment.

This moment of pure happiness, this moment of anticipation, this moment when your whole trip lays before you like a story waiting to be written.

This moment.

It's truly unfortunate that you can't see how big my smile is here.

I really think the thought bubble does it justice, though.

The check in line was pretty long, but CMs were managing it efficiently and it moved quite quickly. While we were standing in line, we heard so many "Welcome to the islands," and when a CM saw our leis, she said, "Aloha." To which we both replied with a big, hearty ALOHA!!! We were just a wee bit excited.

Jennifer from Korea was our check-in CM. She was very, very nice. We explained that Tink had been there before, and I hadn't, so she gave me the low down on the resort. We were so excited to be placed in Jamaica! Tink and I had debated requesting that village, so we were really excited to receive it anyway. Between the security guard named Jack and getting the village we wanted without asking, surely this trip was already blessed with some pixie dust.

Now Jennifer asked if we were celebrating our birthdays this trip and we said yes. Actually, before we left, Tink called to update her address with Disney Reservations, and the CM said, what are you celebrating? Tink said, oh, we're celebrating our birthdays, but they don't fall during the trip. He said, can you come to Disney during your birthdays? She said, well no. And he said, well then, you're celebrating them.

Thus we were aptly dubbed by that CM, "The Thirty and Flirty Celebration."

Jennifer gave us both birthday buttons and we were off. Our room wasn't ready yet, but we were given a number to call. We checked our luggage with bell services, said our goodbyes to Mr. Transportation, and headed off to Old Port Royale.

I think all you moms will know what I mean. This was my first trip without my husband in many moons, and my first trip without my son, ever. And while I enjoyed it...oh, heck, I loved it, I did feel a little guilt every know and then.

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I know this feeling very well. I wonder if I will ever be able to take a "trip" by myself before DD turns 18.

I know this feeling very well. I wonder if I will ever be able to take a "trip" by myself before DD turns 18.

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You know what? I'm really, really glad I did it. This whole trip was a big old happy birthday to me. I was lucky to have a wonderful friend to share it with, and now I'm even entertaining the notion of going solo at some point.

So far, the magic has definitely been with you two! Can't wait to hear how it continued (it did, right?)

TK, I can so relate to the "I am having so much fun without the family, and feeling so....well....free! But I'm feeling a lil guilty, too." It's all good though. And trust me, the more you do it? The easier it gets! I just look at it this way: Your time away gives you a much needed break and makes you all the better for them when you get back. So you are doing it FOR them!!!

Can't wait to hear more. Oh, and Tink, so happy that Dory is feeling better! Hope you can say the same about Lola

So far, the magic has definitely been with you two! Can't wait to hear how it continued (it did, right?)

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In spades!

TK, I can so relate to the "I am having so much fun without the family, and feeling so....well....free! But I'm feeling a lil guilty, too." It's all good though. And trust me, the more you do it? The easier it gets! I just look at it this way: Your time away gives you a much needed break and makes you all the better for them when you get back. So you are doing it FOR them!!!

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Thanks! Honestly, it was amazing how great it felt, and how cleansing to the soul. I'm now a firm believer that time away can make us better parents. Everyone needs some down time.